The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-10-22
The cutest Fad.
'an Francisco Chronicle.


 dainty inscription on the cover of 8 small, but highly prized volume be- longing to young lady living in the Mission. The book is bound in mo- rocco, and was evidently intended by its maker as an album for small card photographs of the regulation por- trait order. The novel use to which it is now put has made of the little volume one of the oldest of curios. In nearly every one of the spaces pre- pared for portraits is photograph of a feminine hand or foot.
 "How did I get this collection? Well, if you won't write any thing ridiculing it Pll tell your"
 That is what the owner of the album said to reporter yesterday.
 You see," she went on, as she turned the leaves of the interesting volume, "some of the girls in this part of town with whom 1 am acquainted hit upon the idea of having their hands photographed. I believe the first one wanted to perpetuate the taper finger on which she had just had an engagement ring placed. The picture was taken in a little circle, with star points all around it and showed nothing but the hand and a portion of the wrist. Here it is, you see."
 A remarkably pretty hand, white and dimpled like baby's, was shown.
 "Yes, that was the first, believe. The girl showed it around among a few of her most intimate friends, of whom am one, and they all thought the picture such 'cute' one that they immediately made up their minds to have something after the same style taken of their own hands. Of course, they didn't all have engagement rings on, but some of them made believe by using other rings, and others had their hands taken plain, as you will see, without any ring at al."
 "But about these feet?" asked the reporter, as slippered and booted ex- tremities were shown in passing.
 Well" "said the owner of the album. just the least bit shyly, "you know when girls get started on such notions as these they always go from one thing to another. At first they thought it would be awful to follow out such suggestion, but finally a very brave possessor of pair of No. 2's said she wasn't afraid and if the other girls would go with her to the gallery she would sit for foot pho tograph. So they went and the result was that the whole party (except one girl who wore No. 5's) had their feet taken. You can see them here in all positions and styles"
 In nearly every case there was fringe of dress skirt above the shoe or slipper, but in one or two instances this was lacking. However, nothing betokening of immodesty could be observed. There were high, arched insteps and low, broad toes and mar row, but nearly all wore common sense low heels, as the average Mission girl knows that running to catch a car with a pencil-like heel under her is anything but nice. and there is good deal of car catching done in the Mission.
 The young lady was in the act of turning the last leaf of the album, when she caught herself, so to speak, and throwing it back held it down securely with her thumb. This aroused the reporters curiosity.
 "Something still more interesting? Let's see it."
 "Oh, no. It isn't to be seen. It isn't nice," and the album was whisked away to the mantel, while the subject was changed. A few minutes later the lady was called from the room for moment and the reporter did not hesitate to take advantage of her absence by turning to the mantel and opening the album at the forbidden page.
 What he saw there was nothing more nor less than another pretty female foot, but, unlike the rest, this one was not booted or hosed.
 When the unsuspecting girl re- entered the room she said that hers was not the only album of the kind recently started in the city. Indeed, it was quite rage to have collec- tion of pictures of the kind. They are all taken in the ''gem" shape and placed in albums made for that size of pictures.